FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

A Christmas Carol – with a Baltimore twist – on stage December 4 - 23, 2017

Chesapeake Shakespeare’s holiday tradition sets the Victorian tale in familiar Baltimore neighborhoods, with songs of the season by fine local community choirs opening the show.

BALTIMORE (Nov. 16, 2017) – Ebenezer Scrooge and Bob Cratchit toil downtown in 1843 Baltimore in Chesapeake Shakespeare Company’s delightfully local and original adaptation of A Christmas Carol, Charles Dickens’ classic holiday ghost story, December 4 through December 23, 2017.

The German Street address of Scrooge and Marley’s counting house is no coincidence: It is the 1886 landmark Mercantile Trust building at the corner of what are now Calvert Street and Redwood Street. Since September 2014, this has been Chesapeake Shakespeare’s theater for innovative presentations of the classics. The address today is 7 South Calvert Street, Baltimore, MD 21202.

When the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Yet To Come arrive in Baltimore, they guide Scrooge on a journey set in locations in the region, including Fells Point, Mount Vernon, and Cecil County. As Scrooge learns to mend his stingy ways, the play celebrates Baltimore charm and Chesapeake culture and history in story and song.

Matinee and evening performances will open with songs of the season, presented by fine professional and community choirs including Bach in Baltimore, Baltimore Musicales, Larksong, Deer Park Magnet Middle School Chorus, our cast, and more. Doors open 45 minutes before showtime; arrive early to enjoy carols and winter songs.

Special events include a free Brown-Bag Bard open house and talk featuring Menalcus Lankford, president of the Baltimore Dickens Society, at 12:30pm December 12 in the theatre. Also planned are a December 10 cookie party sponsored by Baltimore’s Child magazine; and Bob Cratchit’s Wassail Tasting before the December 14 performance. Our season sponsor is PNC Bank. Visit ChesapeakeShakespeare.com for event details.

In keeping with the local theme, the Chesapeake Shakespeare Company will share its stage with eight Baltimore-area choirs, who will welcome audiences to A Christmas Carol. Each choir will present songs of the season in its own style, on its scheduled date:

Heart of Maryland Barbershop Chorus (December 8, evening)

Baltimore Vocal Jazz Ensemble (December 9, matinee and evening)

Baltimore Musicales (December 14, evening)

Deer Park Magnet Middle School, Randallstown (December 15, evening)

Voices Rise (December 16, matinee)

Bach in Baltimore (December 16, evening)

Larksong (December 17, matinee)

Wiley H. Bates Middle School, Annapolis (December 22, matinee)

Adapted and directed by Founding Artistic Director Ian Gallanar and with Resident Actor Gregory Burgess returning as the curmudgeonly Scrooge, this family-friendly play radiates Victorian charm. Audience members are invited to meet the actors after every performance. The theater’s PNC Family Room, a playroom with costumes for dress-up fun, will be open before and during performances.

A Christmas Carol, December 4 - 23, 2017

Chesapeake Shakespeare Company Theater, 7 South Calvert Street, Baltimore, MD 21202

ONLINE TICKETS: ChesapeakeShakespeare.com

BOX OFFICE: 410-244-8570 (Tues-Fri, 11am-3pm, and one hour before shows)

PRICES: adults $42 to $65; seniors $38 to $59; children and students up to age 25, $19 to $33

GROUP TICKETS: Discounts are available for groups of 10 or more adults, and weekday morning matinees are open to the public as well as school groups. For group sales, contact [email protected]

Media contact for images, interviews, and reviewer tickets:

Jean Thompson, Communications Director, [email protected]

410-244-8571, Ext. 106 (office) and 443-845-6130 (cell) www.chesapeakeshakespeare.com